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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Chifley has an estimated 2,785 residents, up from 2,680 at the 2021 Census — a change of 105 people, or 3.9%. Growth has averaged 1.1% a year over five years. That puts 1,752 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to the analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Chifley is approximately 2,785 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 105 people (3.9%) compared to the 2021 Census, which recorded 2,680 people. This shift is calculated using the ABS estimated resident population of 2,785 from June 2025 alongside 44 validated new addresses identified since the Census. With these numbers, the local population density stands at 1,751 persons per square kilometer, a figure that exceeds the average of national locations evaluated by AreaSearch. The primary driver of this population growth was overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 75.1% of the overall population gains in recent times.
AreaSearch utilizes ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 unit, published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline. For any SA2 regions lacking this coverage, and for the years after 2032, age cohort growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 projections (2022 baseline) are applied. Looking at future demographic trends, these projections suggest a contraction in the overall population, with Chifley expected to lose 122 persons by 2041. Despite this general decline, specific age segments are set to expand, particularly the 85 and over age bracket, which is forecasted to grow by 31 people.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
71 new dwellings have been approved in Chifley over the past five years, an average of 14 a year. That is 5.4 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 9, well below that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Chifley has registered an average of approximately 14 new dwelling approvals annually, with 71 residences approved during the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 9 recorded so far in FY-26. Over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), the ratio stood at 2.1 new residents per year per approved dwelling, indicating steady demand that helps sustain property values. The average construction cost of these new homes is $272,000. When compared to the broader Australian Capital Territory, Chifley displays a low volume of development activity, sitting 67.0% below regional average per person.
This limited construction pace generally helps support demand and pricing for established residences. The composition of new developments is split between 60.0% detached houses and 40.0% townhouses or apartments, with the expanding share of townhouses and apartments offering diverse choices ranging from family residences to affordable, compact alternatives. Averaging roughly 375 people per dwelling approval, Chifley represents an established market profile. Given that population projections are steady or declining, Chifley is likely to see reduced housing pressure, which presents advantageous terms for prospective buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Chifley
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 38 current infrastructure and development projects close to Chifley, worth an estimated $6.03 billion. 7 are already under construction and 8 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and health & medical. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local infrastructure projects, planning changes, and major developments are key factors in regional performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 13 projects expected to impact the suburb. Notable examples include the Woden Town Square Precinct Redevelopment, Ivy by Morris (Section 54 Phillip), Skye by Trilogy (Section 117 Phillip), and the Woden Community Services Hub, with the list below highlighting the most relevant projects.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Woden Community Services Hub
A new four-storey facility in Woden Town Centre that will centralise community and government services under one roof, bringing together services currently operating from multiple buildings in the region. It will include child and family services, meeting rooms, a multi-purpose hall, and workshop spaces. Construction is expected to commence in 2026-27.
Ivy by Morris (Section 54 Phillip)
A premium 18-storey residential tower offering 212 apartments with rooftop amenities, ground-floor retail and direct connection to the redeveloped Woden Town Square.
Skye by Trilogy (Section 117 Phillip)
A landmark 20-storey mixed-use residential tower comprising 188 luxury apartments with ground-floor retail and commercial space, located directly opposite Westfield Woden in the Phillip town centre. Developed by Zapari, the project forms part of the broader high-rise transformation of the Woden Town Centre precinct.
The Oaks - Yamba Sports Club Redevelopment
Redevelopment of community sports club facilities with modern amenities and expanded capacity for recreational activities.
Woden Pool Project (Phillip Swimming and Ice-Skating Centre Redevelopment)
Staged redevelopment of the Phillip Swimming and Ice-Skating Centre site in Woden by Geocon. Stage one, approved by the ACT Territory Planning Authority on 16 December 2025, comprises two 13-storey residential towers with 286 apartments above a new public aquatic centre featuring a 25-metre, eight-lane indoor lap pool, warm water program pool, splash pad, learn-to-swim and toddler areas, cafe, and steam and sauna facilities. The existing outdoor 50-metre pool and the ice-skating rink will remain operational during stage one construction, with their future considered in later stages.Geocon intends to eventually deliver around 696 to 700 apartments across five buildings in three stages on the 1.29 hectare site. Minor structural amendments to the approved stage one design remain under assessment.
Woden Pool Redevelopment
Mixed-use redevelopment of the Phillip Swimming and Ice Skating Centre (Woden Pool) comprising a new public indoor aquatic centre with 25m lap pool, learn-to-swim pool, leisure and toddler pools, splash pad, sauna, steam room and cafe, together with two residential towers containing 286 apartments in Stage 1. The broader masterplanned redevelopment is proposed to ultimately deliver around 696 dwellings across three stages.
Woden Town Centre Public Realm Upgrades
ACT Government public realm improvements to Woden Town Square and surrounding streets in Phillip, delivered in stages as part of the broader Woden renewal program. Works include new landscaping and tree planting, street furniture, wayfinding signage, improved pedestrian connectivity and active travel links around the CIT Woden Campus and town centre. The initial Woden Experiment placemaking activation (2019) informed subsequent permanent upgrades. The new Woden Public Transport Interchange became operational in April 2026, completing the active travel connectivity precinct.
Canberra Hospital Master Plan
A 20-year strategic transformation (2021-2041) of the Canberra Hospital campus to modernize clinical facilities and improve campus integration. Following the 2024 completion of the $640 million Critical Services Building (Building 5), current works focus on the demolition of Buildings 6 and 23 to facilitate the new Pathology and Clinical Support Building. The plan ultimately organizes the campus into seven distinct clinical precincts, including new inpatient buildings and expanded parking infrastructure to support long-term regional health demand.
1,549 residents of Chifley are employed, from a labour force of 1,610. Unemployment sits at 3.8%, with participation at 68.3%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.6% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,126, about 76% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local workforce in Chifley is highly educated, featuring a strong representation in essential services, an unemployment rate of just 3.8%, and stable job conditions over the past year. In March 2026, there are 1,549 working residents. The unemployment rate is 0.3% below Australian Capital Territory's rate of 4.1%, while the participation rate is slightly low at 68.3% compared to Australian Capital Territory's 70.8%. Census data indicates that only 12.9% of residents worked from home, a figure that may be influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Resident employment is heavily concentrated in public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical fields.
Conversely, the education & training sector accounts for only 7.3% of the local workforce, which is lower than the 9.6% recorded across Australian Capital Territory. Comparing the Census working population against the resident population suggests that this mostly residential suburb offers few local jobs. AreaSearch's analysis of SALM and ABS statistics shows that for the year ending March 2026, employment grew by 0.1% and the labour force expanded by 1.1%, resulting in a 1.0 percentage points rise in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe, Australian Capital Territory saw employment rise by 0.3%, the labour force expand by 1.1%, and unemployment increase by 0.7 percentage points. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia as of May-25 provide context on prospective demand in Chifley. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential expansion. Nationally, employment is predicted to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though individual sectors will perform differently. Applying these industry projections to Chifley's current workforce suggests local employment will rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.5% over ten years (note that this is a basic weighted extrapolation and does not incorporate localized population forecasts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Chifley is $2,347 a week (about $122,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,191 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $68,180 a year against an average of $82,735. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Based on the latest postcode ATO data from AreaSearch for financial year 2023, Chifley SA2 residents earn incomes that rank among the highest nationally, with a median of $68,180 and an average of $82,735. In comparison, Australian Capital Territory has a median income of $72,206 and an average of $85,981. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be around $75,298 for the median and $91,373 for the average. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Chifley are positioned in the 85th to 90th national percentiles.
The weekly income band of $1,500 - 2,999 is the most common, accounting for 30.8% of residents (857 people), which matches the broader region where this group makes up 34.3%. High earners are prominent, with 38.1% of the community earning more than $3,000 weekly, pointing to substantial spending capacity. Housing costs represent 14.5% of income, strong earnings place residents in the 86th percentile for disposable income, and the SEIFA index ranks the area in the 9th decile for income.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Chifley had 1,059 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 68% detached houses and 6% apartments. 35% are owned with a mortgage, 32% rented and 32% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $450 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,383 a month, a total housing cost higher than 78% of areas nationally. Rent absorbs 19.2% of household income here and mortgage repayments 23.4%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the latest Census, the housing composition in Chifley consisted of 67.7% houses and 32.3% other dwellings (such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and alternative structures), compared to 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings in Australian Capital Territory. Home ownership rates in Chifley stood at 32.3%, which is higher than the Australian Capital Territory average, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (35.2%) or rented (32.4%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $2,383 was notably higher than the Australian Capital Territory average, while the median weekly rent was $450, compared to regional figures of $2,080 and $450 respectively.
On a national level, Chifley's mortgage payments are much higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are also well above the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Chifley counted 1,059 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.4 people each. 28% are couples with children, against 26% couples without children. 31% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.3 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up 64.2% of all households in the area, consisting of couples with children at 28.1%, couples without children at 25.6%, and single parent households at 8.7%. Non-family households account for the remaining 35.8%, with single person households representing 30.7% and group households making up 4.7%. The median household size is 2.4 residents, slightly below the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
52.2% of adults in Chifley hold a university qualification, including 29.5% with a bachelor degree and 16.5% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 12.1% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Education levels in Chifley are high compared to broader averages, with 52.2% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 30.4% nationally and 46.8% in the SA4 region. This education profile supports participation in knowledge-intensive industries. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 29.5%, followed by postgraduate degrees (16.5%) and graduate diplomas (6.2%). Vocational education accounts for 22.9% of qualifications for those aged 15+, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.8%) and certificates (12.1%). Participation in study is high, with 28.9% of the local population enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.1% in primary school, 7.9% in tertiary studies, and 5.9% in secondary school.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Chifley reaches 10 stops on 9 routes, timetabled for about 750 services a week. The typical home sits about 220 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.2 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transport services in Chifley include 10 active bus stops. These stops are served by 9 separate routes, which carry a combined total of 750 passenger trips per week. Transport access is rated as good, with residents living an average of 223 meters from the nearest stop. The suburb is primarily residential, and most workers commute to other areas, with private cars being the main transport mode at 82%, followed by buses at 8% and walking at 5%. Car ownership averages 1.2 vehicles per household. A small proportion of residents (12.9%) work from home, based on 2021 Census data collected during pandemic conditions.
Bus services run at an average frequency of 107 trips per day across all routes, which corresponds to roughly 75 weekly trips at each transport stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
70.7% of residents in Chifley report no long-term health condition. 4.6% need daily assistance with core activities, and 60.8% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.0 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Chifley residents show positive health profiles, according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality and chronic disease rates. The prevalence of common illnesses is low in the general population and close to national averages for older, vulnerable groups, while private health insurance rates are high, covering 61% of the population (1,693 people) compared to a national average of 55.7%. Mental health conditions and arthritis are the most common medical issues in the suburb, affecting 8.6% and 7.6% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 70.7% of the population reported no chronic conditions, compared to 70.2% in the Australian Capital Territory.
The working-age population is generally healthy with a low rate of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and over make up 16.4% of the population (456 people), which is higher than the ACT proportion of 14.3%. Health status among older residents is above average, though it ranks lower nationally than the suburb's overall population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
30.9% of Chifley residents were born overseas and 26.5% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (23.6%) and Australian (20.8%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Chifley has a higher level of cultural diversity than most local markets, with 30.9% of the population born outside Australia and 26.5% speaking a non-English language at home. Christianity is the most common religion, representing 40.0% of residents. There is a notable presence of Hinduism, which accounts for 8.1% of the population compared to 4.8% across the broader Australian Capital Territory. Regarding parental country of birth, the three most common backgrounds in Chifley are English (23.6%), Australian (20.8%), and Other (14.3%). Looking at specific ethnic groups, Spanish ancestry is represented at 0.8% (compared to 0.5% regionally), Serbian ancestry at 0.7% (compared to 0.4% regionally), and Croatian ancestry at 0.9% (matching the 0.9% regional average).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Chifley is 36. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 30.5% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The median age in Chifley is 36 years, which is close to the Australian Capital Territory median of 35 years and younger than the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to the ACT, Chifley has a larger proportion of residents aged 35 - 44 (17.2%) but a smaller share of children aged 5 - 14 (9.5%). Since the 2021 Census, the 35 to 44 age bracket has risen from 15.2% to 17.2% of the population, and the 85+ bracket has increased from 2.0% to 3.2%. Over the same period, the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 12.3% to 10.2% and the 75 to 84 group declined from 6.5% to 5.3%.
Projections for 2041 point to shifts in the local age profile, led by the 65 to 74 cohort, which is expected to grow by 15%, adding 33 residents to reach 252. Older residents aged 65 and over are projected to account for 81% of total population growth, reflecting demographic aging. Conversely, population declines are expected for the 0 to 4 and 15 to 24 age brackets.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Chifley
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | May 2026 3 months ago all 13 measures |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 44 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (2,680 at the 2021 Census → 2,785 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (801091099). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.